I had a rough week last week. By the weekend, I wanted to head on down to the nearest spa and get my troubles and stress scrubbed and massaged away. But I did not because none of the spas I wanted to go to had an opening! Told you it was a rough week! 😛
Anyway we all love the whole spa experience don’t we? Body scrubs, lotions, massages… but its not something we can indulge in often, mostly due to budget constraints or like in my case, spas without openings when you want them. So, I took to doing my own little home body spa treatment.
It was while I was doing up my own mini body spa treatment, that it dawned on me, that everything I was using was not only affordable, it is easily obtained from the pharmacies… and they work!
So, here’s how you can do a home body spa on a budget – and I promise you, this is truly BUDGET! RM50 should just about do it for initial investment! 😀
Start with a Body Scrub
I use my favourite Garnier Bodylight body scrub. The granules aren’t too harsh and they leave my skin feeling baby butt smooth. The lemon scent is lovely too! I get in the shower, rub on the scrub and scrub away all the rough dull dead skin. Rinse it off and feel a whole lot better! Price RM11.90/100ml.
Use a moisturizing body wash
After a body scrub, I follow up with the Olay Total Effects moisturizing body wash. The moisturizing body wash after a scrub and mask makes the skin feel velvety smooth and helps it stop feeling too dry! Try it if you don’t believe it. Price RM19.90/583ml
Apply a moisturizing body lotion
Once you get out of the shower and towel yourself dry, its time to slap on the body lotion onto your newly scrubbed and clean skin. As I don’t like the heavy feel of body butter on my skin (its not that dry) I usually end up with my perennial favourite – Nivea body lotion. I go round the circuit trying this lotion and that but I always always come back to this one. Under RM20 for huge bottle.
End and relax before going to sleep!
Ok so the only thing missing will probably be a massage but if you live with your significant other, now’s the time to get them to give you that much needed massage to relax your muscles 😉 Since I don’t have an SO to do that (boo!) I usually just end right here 😀
And that’s it! I do this at night, once a fortnight or so when I have a free evening to pamper myself. I sometimes burn a Dirt Candle to help me relax before bed. And you know the best thing about spending this RM50? You can do this home spa for up to a few months on that same RM50! Budget or what? 😀
Come share your favourite 3 products for scrub, body wash and body lotion under RM50 – we can all pick up something new next time we want to do a budget home body spa 😉
Paris B
Jenn says
April 7, 2010 at 9:14 amI call my Wednesdays Wonderful Wednesday – where i pamper myself from head to toe! I shower and scrub myself down, then slather on lotion and put on a sheet mask (sometimes a clay mask before that). When i’m feeling it i do a hair mask too!! haha!! 😀 It does rejuvinates me and make the midweek more bearable! 😀
Now i MUST try out that Olay bodywash!! I love moisturizing body washes!! 😀
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:34 pmI think you will like the Olay body wash. Mine just finished and I think I’ll pick up another even though I have a million body washes in my bathroom already! LOL
plue says
April 7, 2010 at 9:23 ami also do the same thing lately!
currently loving Tine’s gift, spa sanctuary something scrub, but i don’t use it often cuz it’ll be hard for me to get it once it finishes!
body washes and lotions i pick and choose whatever i fancy, scrub me face, put on a mask, and sleep like really early! works a treat!
although i still wake up the next morn wishing it’s a holiday or a weekend though… LOL
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:35 pmHmm I don’t do my face the same time I do my body. I wonder why… maybe its so I have 2 pampering days instead of 1 😉
Hanny says
April 7, 2010 at 9:25 amSince I’m allergic to basically everything under the sun (except cosmetics, whew, lucky), I only use Johnson and Johnson’s body shampoo, which is the blue one. T.T But on Sunday nights, I pamper myself with a face scrub, my usual Clinique 3 Step followed by a pore-minimizing mask. And yes, like Jenn, I would use a hair-mask as well. After that, its all about me and my fanfics or anime. ^.^ (Can’t wait for A Levels to be done with!!!)
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:36 pmAh even allergic to body stuff? That sucks.
Kay Es says
April 7, 2010 at 10:28 amMy once- or twice-a-week body pampering ritual includes St Ives apricot scrub (the one that comes in a large tub for about RM 20 or so) and Johnson + Johnson’s soft lotion. For budget shower creams, I always stick to Lux or Shokubotsu.
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:36 pmOho! I like that St. Ives scrub too! But sometimes the granules can feel a tad too hard for me. These days I prefer using salt or sugar scrubs 🙂
rinnah says
April 7, 2010 at 10:31 amSounds like a treat! I need to do that soon – between work and the new house, I’m starting to feel a wee bit frazzled. But what I’m really craving for right now is a good massage for my weary body. 🙂
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:37 pmYes! Never a better time to relax – at least if you can’t get a massage, you can still relax for a spell before the madness starts again
Jyoan says
April 7, 2010 at 11:00 amhaha, I also have the same things! Except for the Garnier scrub, I love them all. =)
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:37 pmYay! 😀 Have you tried the Garnier scrub? I really like it
geekchic says
April 7, 2010 at 11:11 amHmm.. I hadn’t done that in a while. Maybe I should. For me, it’s:
Dry brushing my skin.
Then, an olive oil + sugar scrub.
Followed by my favourite body wash (whatever it might be)
I would usually scrub my face too. And then, a sheet mask. I’d trot out in my bathrobe and hair in towel. Put the glasses on (cos I’m blind that way), turn the xbox on and start blasting away baddies or aliens.
Maybe I’ll do that today since it’s not such a good day so far 🙁 I’m only looking forward to the end of the work day, buying House of the dead for the wii and then going home to blasting some zombies away to smithereens. 🙁
Your post cannot come at a better time 🙁
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:38 pmI’m too lazy to DIY my own scrub hence the store bought scrubs 🙂 Hope your day gets better soon – as it should once you put yourself through the pampering mill 🙂
Connie says
April 7, 2010 at 11:15 amBest part about a home spa is that you get to run around in your birthday suit…
The last time I had a home spa, it was a weekend, I was home alone with a spa kit from Biossentials. Wasn’t naked though.
Mom taught me a lotion trick. Instead of towel drying first, just shake off the water (like a dog) but still leave droplets of water on the skin. Then, slap on lotion and wait for it to absorb. The moisture lasts A LOT longer. I was quite surprised!
geekchic says
April 7, 2010 at 2:23 pmHAHA! Love your suggestions, Connie. Both the birthday suit and shaking water off kind. 🙂
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:39 pmHaha! Yes you can run around in your birthday suit if you like 😀 I like your mom’s trick. I do tend to towel myself down first though so I don’t drip water everywhere. I just got a new scrub that I can use “dry” so I’m going to be trying that and if it works well, wohoo! no more body lotion hassle! 😉
lyn says
April 7, 2010 at 11:49 amI usually do this mid-week and on Sundays and sometimes include a mini facial too. I like the Garnier body scrub, it’s abrasive enough without being too harsh and does not leave an oil slick behind.
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:40 pmYes! I hate scrubs that leave an oily sticky feel especially on the floor. When that happens there goes my relaxing time because I’d be scrubbing my bathroom floor instead 😛
yuki says
April 7, 2010 at 12:17 pmnice post~~ My pampering is usually just putting on a tissue mask… haha… mayb I shud do the whole body ‘spa’ as well… hehe… I like guardian’s pomegranate body scrub… Their granules are actually dried pomegranate =) I like the smell and the price is good too… I can’t remember how much but the small bottle is abt RM5 or less?
ooo… gonna try that trick, Connie =) my legs are quite dry… hehe…
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:40 pmNothing beats a full body spa for ultra pampering. The smoothness of your skin will amaze you 😀
Syen says
April 7, 2010 at 2:31 pmOooh boy. Don’t we all need some lovin’. Every now and then I love giving myself some TLC too, and evening showers are my me-time.
I love The Body Shop’s Nutmeg & Vanilla scrub (sorry! I know it’s over RM50, but uhh.. I still love it), then St Ives Vanilla body wash, and slather on uhh.. Dove Body Silk? Or St Ives Whipped Silk?
Just had a session yesterday. Lovely. =)
ParisB says
April 7, 2010 at 3:43 pmI love my evening shower time! Its the best way to unwind after a long long day. Can’t use The Body Shop anymore but it sounds lovely – like a cake mmmm 😛
monstro says
April 7, 2010 at 3:27 pmSounds so nice! Great idea, need to get scrub now… 😀
Aurora says
April 7, 2010 at 4:04 pmI am wondering is it suppose be scrub or shower cream that comes 1st? because I usually use the shower cream before the scrub, similar to the steps I used it for my face.
My favorite body scrub is Daintree’s Tropical Sugarcane body scrub. I’m addicted to the scent so much and I don’t think I can get the same scent in any other body scrub..hehe…
Veron says
April 7, 2010 at 4:24 pmI did the same thing as well on every weekend and I have all the products that PB is using now but the difference is I am using the Olay Spa exfoliating ribbons (the blue packaging), it is so creamy and moisturizing.
Do we need to have body scrub first before the body wash? coz i always have my body wash first follow by scrub. Garnier body scrub is good.
However, I still prefer the Lux body scrub but can’t find it anymore nowadays.
I found that Nivea body lotions are thick n need some times for it to absorb. Hence, even I am now using the Nivea latest whitening lotion, I still prefer vaseline lotions which is more light and not sticky.